3. Executive Committee Business

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy, introduced a Bill to enable the Department for Regional Development to continue to make payments to water and sewerage undertakers for a limited period; and to make provision requiring certain notices to be registered in the Statutory Charges Register.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

3.2 Final Stage - Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson, moved that the Final Stage of the Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Superannuation Bill passed Final Stage.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion - Report on complaints against Mr Jim Wells MLA

A valid Petition of Concern was presented in relation to this motion under Standing Order 28, on Friday 16 November (Appendix 1).

Proposed:

That this Assembly, in consideration of the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 71/11-15), imposes upon Mr Jim Wells MLA the sanction of exclusion from proceedings of the Assembly for a period of seven days beginning on the day after the resolution.

Deputy Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived on a cross-community vote (Division 1).

Following receipt of valid Petitions of Concern (see Appendix 2 and Appendix 3), under Standing Order 28, Members were informed that the votes would be taken on Tuesday 20 November.

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 35(10)(a) and (b)(i), the Welfare Reform Bill be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements; and that the Ad Hoc Committee shall consider and report only whether the provisions of the Bill are in conformity with the requirements for equality and observance of human rights.

Chairperson, Committee for Social Development

4.3 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘35(10)(a);’ and insert:

‘and (b)(ii), the Welfare Reform Bill be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements; and that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, in addition to considering and reporting on those matters, carry out the role of the statutory committee in relation to the Bill.’

Mr G Campbell Ms P Bradley

An explanatory statement was made by the Member who proposed the motion and by a Member who opposed it.

The Amendment was not moved.

The Speaker advised Members that the Business Committee motion to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, which was the next item on the Order Paper, could not be moved until the vote took place on the motion to refer the Bill.

The sitting was suspended at 2.25pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.30pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.

5. Question Time

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion - Child Poverty Action Plan

Proposed:

That this Assembly takes account of the recently published Annual Child Poverty Report; notes that the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is falling far short of the targets contained within the Child Poverty Act; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to publish an action plan for the Child Poverty Strategy.

Mr M Nesbitt Mr D Kinahan

6.2 Amendment No.1

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Report;’ and insert:

‘notes that the child poverty targets set in the UK wide legislation are challenging and that all regions across the UK are struggling to meet the targets, given the current international economic downturn; and calls on the Executive to work with the devolved administrations and the UK Government to identify actions to meet the statutory targets and reduce poverty.’

Mr S Moutray Mr G Robinson Mr S Hamilton

6.3 Amendment No.2

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘and to identify additional funds associated with limiting the damage of the recession for use in combating child poverty.’

Mr D McNarry

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Question being put, Amendment No.1 was made (Division 2).

The Question being put, Amendment No.2 was made without division.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.

6.4 Motion: Concern about the Consultation on Cross Border Education

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes, with concern, the consultation on cross border education; recognises that there are circumstances in which parents living close to the border may wish to send their children to a school in the neighbouring jurisdiction; further notes that this only happens in a small minority of cases; expresses concern that this consultation, on an issue of potentially significant consequence for the future of education, was confined to a narrow geographical area; and calls on the Minister of Education to reflect on his priorities and address the outstanding issues which he is already facing such as, area planning, finding an equitable solution on selection and tackling educational inequality.

Mr D Kinahan Mrs J Dobson

6.5 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after first ‘notes’ and insert:

‘the consultation on cross border education; recognises that there are circumstances in which parents living close to the border may wish to send their children to a school in the neighbouring jurisdiction; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that this consultation is robust and is included as part of the area planning process.’

Mr S Rogers Mr D Bradley

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division 3).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried (Division 4).

6.6 Motion: Reform of Employment Law

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the national Government has undertaken a review of employment law to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses; and urges the Minister for Employment and Learning to ensure that Northern Ireland does not fall behind the rest of the UK in terms of reforms.

Mr A Ross Mr P Weir

6.7 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘notes that the Minister for Employment and Learning has initiated a wide-ranging review of employment law in line with the commitment made in the Economic Strategy; endorses a modern, efficient and integrated employment law system that works in the interests of business, helps our economy to grow, attracts investment and encourages companies to recruit new staff, and at the same time provides sufficient protection for the rights of employees, with opportunities for redress; and calls on the Minister to have due regard to changes in employment law in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.’

Mr C Lyttle Mr S Dickson Mr K McCarthy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made without division.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.48pm.

Mr William Hay The Speaker19 November 2012

Appendix 1

Northern Ireland Assembly

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a petition of concern, in accordance with Standing Order 28, on Friday 16 November in relation to the following motion.

Report on complaints against Mr Jim Wells MLA

That this Assembly, in consideration of the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 71/11-15), imposes upon Mr Jim Wells MLA the sanction of exclusion from proceedings of the Assembly for a period of seven days beginning on the day after the resolution.

That, in accordance with Standing Order 35(10)(a) and (b)(i), the Welfare Reform Bill be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements; and that the Ad Hoc Committee shall consider and report only whether the provisions of the Bill are in conformity with the requirements for equality and observance of human rights.

‘and (b)(ii), the Welfare Reform Bill be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee on Conformity with Equality Requirements; and that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, in addition to considering and reporting on those matters, carry out the role of the statutory committee in relation to the Bill.’

That this Assembly, in consideration of the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 71/11-15), imposes upon Mr Jim Wells MLA the sanction of exclusion from proceedings of the Assembly for a period of seven days beginning on the day after the resolution.

‘notes that the child poverty targets set in the UK wide legislation are challenging and that all regions across the UK are struggling to meet the targets, given the current international economic downturn; and calls on the Executive to work with the devolved administrations and the UK Government to identify actions to meet the statutory targets and reduce poverty.’

‘the consultation on cross border education; recognises that there are circumstances in which parents living close to the border may wish to send their children to a school in the neighbouring jurisdiction; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that this consultation is robust and is included as part of the area planning process.’

Concern about the Consultation on Cross Border Education – Motion, as amended

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the consultation on cross-border education; recognises that there are circumstances in which parents living close to the border may wish to send their children to a school in the neighbouring jurisdiction; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that this consultation is robust and is included as part of the area planning process.